The computer often seems to make beep noises or other sounds at various times, whether we want them or not. They come from various sources, and as such, you may be able to configure if or when they occur. For situations where no sound card or speakers are available and a simple audio notification is desired, see [[#Beep]].

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The computer often seems to make beep noises or other sounds at various times, whether we want them or not. They come from various sources, and as such, you may be able to configure if or when they occur. In situations where no sound card or speakers are available and simple audio notification is desired, use {{pkg|beep}}. The {{pkg|beep}} package provides an advanced PC speaker beeping program.

Sounds from the computer can be heard from the built-in case speaker, the speakers, or headphones which are plugged into the soundcard (in which case the noise may be unexpectedly loud).

Sounds from the computer can be heard from the built-in case speaker, the speakers, or headphones which are plugged into the soundcard (in which case the noise may be unexpectedly loud).

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{{Note|The sounds are caused by the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), the OS (Operating System), the DE (Desktop Environment), or various software programs. The BIOS is a particularly troublesome problem because it is kept inside an EPROM chip on the motherboard, and the only direct control the user has is by turning the power on or off. Unless the BIOS setup has a setting you can adjust or you wish to attempt to reprogram that chip with the proper light source, it is not likely you will be able to change it at all. BIOS-generated beep sounds are not addressed here, except to say that unplugging your computer case speaker will stop all such sounds from being heard. (Do so at your own risk.)}}

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{{Note|The sounds are caused by the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), the OS (Operating System), the DE (Desktop Environment), or various software programs. The BIOS is a particularly troublesome problem because it is kept inside an EPROM chip on the motherboard, and the only direct control the user has is by turning the power on or off. Unless the BIOS setup has a setting you can adjust or you wish to attempt to reprogram that chip with the proper light source, it is not likely you will be able to change it at all. BIOS-generated beep sounds are not addressed here, except to say that unplugging your computer case speaker will stop all such sounds from being heard. (Do so at your own risk.)}}

== Disable PC Speaker ==

== Disable PC Speaker ==

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Turning off a particular instance of a sound, while leaving the others operational, is possible if and only if one can identify which portion of the environment generates the particular sound. This allows for a customized selection of attention-getting sounds possible. Please feel free to add any configurations and settings to this wiki page that may be useful for other users.

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===Globally===

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Turning off a particular instance of a sound, while leaving the others operational, is possible if and only if one can identify which portion of the environment generates the particular sound. This allows customizing the selection of sounds. Please feel free to add any configurations and settings to this wiki page that may be useful for other users.

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=== Globally ===

The PC speaker can be disabled by [[Kernel modules#Manual_module_handling|unloading]] the {{ic|pcspkr}} [[kernel module]]:

The PC speaker can be disabled by [[Kernel modules#Manual_module_handling|unloading]] the {{ic|pcspkr}} [[kernel module]]:

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$ xset -b

$ xset -b

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You can add this command to a startup file, such as [[xprofile]] to make it permanent.

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You can add this command to a startup file such as {{ic|/etc/xprofile}} to make it permanent. See [[xprofile]] for more information.

=== Console ===

=== Console ===

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You can add this command in {{ic|/etc/profile}} or a dedicated file like {{ic|/etc/profile.d/disable-beep.sh}} (must be executable):

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You can add this command in {{ic|/etc/profile}} or a dedicated file like {{ic|/etc/profile.d/disable-beep.sh}}:

setterm -blength 0

setterm -blength 0

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=== ALSA ===

=== ALSA ===

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{{Tip|For most Intel cards, if you do not see "PC Speaker" in alsamixer's default device, then try selecting the "HDA Intel PCH" device by pressing F6. It is listed as "Beep" there. This is because PulseAudio proxy controls may not list all PC Speakers.}}

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For most sound cards the PC speaker is listed as an [[ALSA]] channel, named either ''PC Speaker'', ''PC Beep'', or ''Beep''. To mute the speaker, either use ''alsamixer'' or ''amixer'':

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Try muting the PC Speaker:

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$ amixer set ''channel'' 0% mute

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$ amixer set 'PC Speaker' 0% mute

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For certain sound cards, it is the PC Beep:

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To unmute the channel, see [[Advanced Linux Sound Architecture#Unmuting the channels]].

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$ amixer set 'PC Beep' 0% mute

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Or merely Beep:

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{{Tip|If you are using PulseAudio and the PC speaker channel is not listed for the default ALSA device, try selecting the device corresponding to the sound card - PulseAudio proxy controls may not list the PC speaker}}

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$ amixer set 'Beep' 0% mute

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You can also use alsamixer for a console GUI

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$ alsamixer

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{{Note|Not every sound card creates a PC Speaker or PC Beep slider control in alsamixer.}}

=== GNOME ===

=== GNOME ===

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Beep is an advanced PC speaker beeping program. It is useful for situations where no sound card and/or speakers are available, and simple audio notification is desired.

Beep is an advanced PC speaker beeping program. It is useful for situations where no sound card and/or speakers are available, and simple audio notification is desired.

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===Installation===

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=== Installation ===

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[[Install]] the {{Pkg|beep}} package.

[[Install]] the {{Pkg|beep}} package.

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You may also need to [[#ALSA|unmute]] the PC speaker in [[ALSA]].

=== Access for non-root users ===

=== Access for non-root users ===

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Note however that this way '''anyone''' can execute {{ic|/usr/bin/beep}} with root permissions. The change also creates a difference between local copy and the package, which will be reported by {{ic|pacman -Qkk}}.

Note however that this way '''anyone''' can execute {{ic|/usr/bin/beep}} with root permissions. The change also creates a difference between local copy and the package, which will be reported by {{ic|pacman -Qkk}}.

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===Unmuting in alsamixer===

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=== Tips and Tricks ===

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You should also unmute the Beep channel using {{Ic|alsamixer}}.

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$ alsamixer

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You may need to press {{ic|F6}} and select your card. scroll to the Beep channel using the arrow keys and press {{ic|M}} to unmute the channel. notice that the "MM" label below the channel will change to "00". you can also use {{ic|↑}} to increase the volume of the channel.

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Press {{ic|Esc}} to close alsamixer.

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===Tips and Tricks===

While many people are happy with the traditional beep sound, some may like to change its properties a bit. The following example plays slighly higher and shorter sound and repeats it two times.

While many people are happy with the traditional beep sound, some may like to change its properties a bit. The following example plays slighly higher and shorter sound and repeats it two times.

# beep -f 5000 -l 50 -r 2

# beep -f 5000 -l 50 -r 2

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==See also==

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== See also ==

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* {{man|1|xset}}, {{man|1|setterm}}, {{man|1|readline}}

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* {{man|1|xset}}, {{man|1|setterm}}, {{man|3|readline}}

Revision as of 20:32, 6 September 2017

The computer often seems to make beep noises or other sounds at various times, whether we want them or not. They come from various sources, and as such, you may be able to configure if or when they occur. For situations where no sound card or speakers are available and a simple audio notification is desired, see #Beep.

Sounds from the computer can be heard from the built-in case speaker, the speakers, or headphones which are plugged into the soundcard (in which case the noise may be unexpectedly loud).

Note: The sounds are caused by the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), the OS (Operating System), the DE (Desktop Environment), or various software programs. The BIOS is a particularly troublesome problem because it is kept inside an EPROM chip on the motherboard, and the only direct control the user has is by turning the power on or off. Unless the BIOS setup has a setting you can adjust or you wish to attempt to reprogram that chip with the proper light source, it is not likely you will be able to change it at all. BIOS-generated beep sounds are not addressed here, except to say that unplugging your computer case speaker will stop all such sounds from being heard. (Do so at your own risk.)

Contents

Disable PC Speaker

Turning off a particular instance of a sound, while leaving the others operational, is possible if and only if one can identify which portion of the environment generates the particular sound. This allows customizing the selection of sounds. Please feel free to add any configurations and settings to this wiki page that may be useful for other users.

Tip: If you are using PulseAudio and the PC speaker channel is not listed for the default ALSA device, try selecting the device corresponding to the sound card - PulseAudio proxy controls may not list the PC speaker

GNOME

Using GSettings:

$ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences audible-bell false

Cinnamon

Cinnamon seems to play a "water drop" sound. To disable it, set in dconf:

$ dconf write /org/cinnamon/desktop/wm/preferences/audible-bell false

GTK+

Append this line to ~/.gtkrc-2.0:

gtk-error-bell = 0

Add the same line to the [Settings] section of $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gtk-3.0/settings.ini:

Installation

Access for non-root users

By default beep will fail if not run by the root. Other users may call it using sudo. To let group users call sudo beep without a password (for example to use it in scripts), /etc/sudoersshould be edited:

%users ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/beep

or, to let only a single user do that:

username ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/beep

Another way is setting the sticky bit on /usr/bin/beep:

# chmod 4755 /usr/bin/beep

Note however that this way anyone can execute /usr/bin/beep with root permissions. The change also creates a difference between local copy and the package, which will be reported by pacman -Qkk.

Tips and Tricks

While many people are happy with the traditional beep sound, some may like to change its properties a bit. The following example plays slighly higher and shorter sound and repeats it two times.